The Monitor., 1887-09-02
A NIGHT OF TERROR.

'On; mamma, can go say, eau 20!
l want to go so bad, mamma! Do get papa
to let men' And Fred Grant stood on one
leg like tired rooster, and hitched and
twisted, and did everything he could think
of to show how anxious and excited he
was.
Uncle Dan Hurley was going off for a
weeks hunting on the prairies, with a
tent to live in, and he wanted Fred to 60
too. Just ask any boy if Fred was likely
to want to go.
But papa and mamma could hardly de-
eide hastily
''Say, mamma, can |? Say, mamma,
can | go?" Fred kept asking over and
over again, until at last papa said $50
out ON the lawn and play while We talk
it over, Fred We will call you when we
have decided"
Fred knew he had to go, but he did not
do so willingly. He backed out of the
room slowly, and hopping on one foot, so
as to stay as long as possible. But he got
out at last AS soon as he was gone, his
papa said: "Well, what do you think of it,
mamma ?a
'It would do him good" answered
mamma. 'But there's one objection-Dan
will drink little now and them
'ssurely he would not, when he was out
with a child in his care, said papa.
"Well, don't know answered man.
ma, thoughtfully. 81 fear to risk it.
'1'll have talk wi tn him, said Fred s
papa. ''And if he will promise to stay
thoroughly sober, guess Fred may 60"
Uncle Dan promised faithfully not to
touch one drop of liquor while he was out.
But if he meant to keep the promise, what
made him take the little black j ug of
whisky along in his stores?
However, Mr.. and Mrs. Grant knew
nothing OF that little black jug, so they
trusted uncle Dams word, and LEI Fred go
to the prairies with him.
Oh, what fun they had at first! They
went on horseback. Uncle Dan rode a
stout gray and had the tent folded and
strapped to his saddle behind. He also
had their small camp kettle, while Fred
carried the bag which held their pro-
visions.
The first night they camped beside a
beautiful stream. They pitched their
tent, built a fire, hung the kettle on pole
laid across two sticks with crotches in
them. and cooked their supper
Fred turned the ponies out TO eat the
sweet prairie grass, fastening them to
a stake with long rope, SO they could
not wander away Then he sat on a log
and watched uncle Dan preparing their
supper And when it was eaten he slept
in the tent with uncle Dan. He thought
it was splendid l don't think there
ever was a boy enjoyed a trip more than
Fred enjoyed that one for several days.
But alas, alas! One evening when they
unpacked their camp stores uncle Dan
took out the black jug he had hidden
away. He did not let Fred see it, but the
matter. He did not know what, but he
saw that uncle Dan, instead of being live
ly and telling stories as usual, was stupid
and sleepy. Fred asked if he was sick.
Uncle Dan said, ''No, only tired. >
Fred was very tired himself, so he, too,
very readily laid down in the tent and soon
fell asleep. Uucle Dan always carefully
put out the fire, so that it should not catch
the dry prairie grass. Tonight the black
jug made him forget to attend to it-he
was not himself, you see.
And so it happened that some time in
the night bright light and a cracking
sound woke Fred. He sprung up and saw
a dreadful thing. The prairie was on
fire all around them. Worse; the tent
they were under was in flames.
In agony the poor boy tried to wake his
uncle; but the whisky had done its work
too well. He could not even rouse him.
And every instant the scorching flames
came hotter and nearer. In a few
moments they must both perish, unless
the boy could save the man.
With smothered cry to God for help.
Fred did all he could do. He rolled and
tugged and pulled, until, with his blistered
hands, he rolled the insensible man into
the little stream on whose banks they were
encamped.
Then he held uncle Dams head up, him.
self lying nearly under water, until the
flames had passed on and left them. He
tried to drag his chilled limbs back to
shore, but could only draw uncle Dan half
way out the water, until he came to his
senses, where he lay.
And how do you think uncle Dan felt
when reason returned their tent and
horses burned, their bodies all painful
blisters, wet, chilled and alone, miles away
from home-all because he had yielded
to the dreadful appetite? They reached
home at last alive. But uncle Dan final
ly died from the effects of that nights ex-
posures, and Fred will carry the scars OF
his burns to the grave. But he will never
touch one drop of liquor so long as he
lives Careful Builders.
Whenever we see full grown man stop
-, 4,>o - roa+ aud loan bic oiUar tn a th roe.